Baylor trio get national volleyball honors

Baylor sophomore Haven Bethune and freshmen Gabby Gray and Lilly Turner have been selected among the best of their classes in the nation by prepvolleyball.com.

Bethune, a 5-foot-10 setter, was chosen on the website's Soph 79 first team, which recognizes the 79 most outstanding sophomores in the country. Gray, a 6-foot outside hitter, was selected to the website's Frosh 59 first team -- a list of the 59 most outstanding varsity-playing volleyball freshmen in the country for the 2013 fall season. Turner, a 5-6 libero, received a special honorable mention.

Bethune totaled 1,504 assists, which Baylor reports is the most in a single season in TSSAA history. Gray registered 660 kills and Turner made 641 digs for the Lady Red Raiders, who finished 41-8 and were Division II-AA state-runnersup in their fifth consecutive state-tournament appearance.

"These accolades are very well deserved," Baylor volleyball coach Sarah Lail said in a school release. "I couldn't be more proud of what these three have accomplished both on and off the court. It is very exciting for our program, that the girls are getting this kind of recognition. It is a testament to the hard work they put in every day."

No CCS softball

Last season it was Lookout Valley. This year it's Chattanooga Christian that will not be fielding a high school softball team.

"We actually did not have enough numbers," Lady Chargers coach Loren Flores said. "It's super disappointing. Right now our focus is on our middle school program. It's going to be exciting for our future."

Unlike Hamilton County's public middle schools, which compete in the fall in the Hamilton County Athletic Conference, CCS's middle school competes in the Independent Schools Conference, which has its softball season in the spring.